Please Kill Me - Chapter 135
Yuri flicked the edge of his glass with his fingertips. A clear, sharp sound resonated as the transparent liquor inside sloshed around.
“Vasily, there’s no one who never lies. Absolutely none. They simply make it appear that way. It’s a kind of brainwashing.”
A person who claims to tell only the truth and manages to maintain that illusion even slightly can easily be trusted by others. This tendency to rely on what is heard and seen rather than on personal judgment is human nature.
“Don’t believe in the words of people; think about what you observed of that person. Does the Yekaterina Offenbach you know seem like someone who would get angry after discovering that Leonid deceived her?”
Vasily, who had based his thoughts solely on what he had witnessed, reflected on Yuri’s rational words and reconsidered his memories. Not just in the barracks, but how was she in the manor? After a brief pause, Vasily responded.
“…She didn’t seem like that.”
Far from being angry, it seemed doubtful whether Yekaterina Offenbach even had any emotions. If the Yekaterina he knew was true to form, she would have asked to be killed rather than expressing anger after learning the truth.
But doesn’t that seem too different from the Yekaterina he actually saw?
“Exactly. What she said was a lie.”
“But… why would she tell such a lie? What’s the motive?”
“There is no action without motive. Just because you didn’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Yekaterina Offenbach said she would try to do something before she left. And now she returns and reacts differently from usual? The answer is simple.”
Yekaterina Offenbach plans to leave. Everything she said about returning to Offenbach and her anger were merely facades to make her true intentions appear plausible.
That’s the essence of it.
“There are essentially only two ways Yekaterina Offenbach can moderately save Leonid. Either she intercedes with Offenbach or she takes the blame upon herself. Personally, I suspect it will be the latter. I hear Offenbach is quite harsh on deserters.”
“That’s right. They start by putting their lives on the line. It’s unspeakable, really.”
“Indeed. In that case, taking the blame might be the better option, as it avoids the need for any further humiliation.”
What was important was that Yuri sensed Yekaterina’s sacrifice. Leonid didn’t seem to have any idea about it. There are always perspectives visible only to those standing at a distance from the situation.
However, Yuri had no intention of stopping it. Why would he? No matter how grateful he was to Yekaterina, it couldn’t compare to Leonid’s life. Yuri didn’t push Yekaterina into sacrificing herself; if Yekaterina herself decided to make that sacrifice for Leonid, Yuri had no reason to intervene.
‘That’s why I told Vasily not to mention Yekaterina Offenbach to Leonid as much as possible.’
Surprisingly, Yekaterina returned unharmed. This forced Yuri to admit that his judgment was flawed. Somehow, Yekaterina had succeeded in her negotiations regarding Offenbach and Leonid’s salvation.
Perhaps she had left Leonid as a consequence, or maybe there were other reasons for her departure.
“If Yekaterina Offenbach is behaving differently from usual in the current situation, it’s only because she plans to leave.”
“Then doesn’t that mean we should stop her even more?”
“Why?”
“Your Highness, you mentioned that the relationship between the Duke and the Miss isn’t ordinary!”
If Leonid’s first thought upon seeing Vasily own face was Yekaterina, wouldn’t he act if she was to leave? Vasily could confidently say that Leonid wouldn’t stay idle. Although Leonid had a nonchalant and relaxed nature, he wasn’t exactly a gentleman.
But Yuri remained calm.
“That’s all the more reason to let her go now. She’s made the decision to leave, and if she’s already creating reasons to do so, why interfere?”
“But surely the Duke will notice.”
“He’ll notice. Leonid’s charges will be cleared with Offenbach. But even if he knows, by then Yekaterina will have already left. What more can be done after that?”
“I… I’m worried.”
Seeing Leonid so deeply affected by someone is unprecedented. It’s also the first time witnessing him parting this way.
Will he really be alright?
Leonid has always been a steadfast person. Someone who is a pillar of strength rather than relying on others. He leads rather than being led. But, conversely, this means that when he needs to rely on someone and feels like giving up, there is no one there for him.
‘There hasn’t been any significant problem so far….’
Vasily had seen Leonid’s expression when it was discovered that he had lied to Yekaterina. Even if the ground beneath him were to crumble, he wouldn’t show that kind of expression.
